IP Library Granted Patent US 8,714,268
Granted Patent B2
US 8,714,268 · App. 13/661,682 · Granted May 6, 2014

Method of making and using multi-component disappearing tripping ball

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,714,268
App. No.
13/661,682
Granted
May 6, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for making a tripping ball comprising configuring two or more parts to collectively make up a portion of a tripping ball; and assembling the two or more parts by adhering the two or more parts together with an adherent dissolvable material to form the tripping ball, the adherent dissolvable material operatively arranged to dissolve for enabling the two or more parts to separate from each other. A method of performing a pressure operation with a tripping ball is also included.

Claims (15)

1. A method for making a tripping ball comprising:

configuring two or more parts to collectively make up a portion of a tripping ball; and

assembling the two or more parts by adhering the two or more parts together with an adherent dissolvable material to form the tripping ball, the adherent dissolvable material operatively arranged to dissolve for enabling the two or more parts to separate from each other.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the assembling comprises disposing the adherent material between the two or more parts of the ball in solid form and solid-state bonding the two or more parts of the ball and the adherent material.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid-state bond is formed at a temperature below a melting temperature of the two or more parts of the ball or the adherent material.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid-state bond is formed under isostatic pressure.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid-state bond is formed by resistance welding.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid-state bond is formed by brazing.

7. A method for performing a pressuring operation using a tripping ball in a single trip comprising:

dropping a tripping ball, the tripping ball including two or more parts and an adherent dissolvable material binding the two or more parts of the ball together;

seating the tripping ball in a seat downhole;

pressuring up against the tripping ball;

dissolving the adherent dissolvable material to separate the two or more parts from each other; and

passing the two or more parts of the ball out of the seat.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the dissolving is by selective passage of time while the tripping ball is in contact with well fluids.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2022
From: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED; BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
To: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 060073/0589 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2012
From: AGRAWAL, GAURAV; XU, ZHIYUE
To: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 029527/0359 →